SCIENTIFIC TEXT: Using Claims, Evidence and Reasoning

Step 1: Read the article provided.

Step 2: What is the Authors Claim: (Using 1-2 sentences state what you think is the authors main
idea or main point.)

Step 3: Gather Evidence Step 4: Critique Evidence Step 5: Revise the Evidence

Directions: Use the guiding
question below to collect
evidence that you think supports
what you wrote in step 2. Write
the evidence in the empty box
below.
Directions: (Exchange your
paper with someone else.)
Now, the other person should
use the guiding questions below
to suggest ways that your
evidence can be strengthened.
They should write their thoughts
in the empty bow below.
Directions: Rewrite your
evidence in the empty box
below. Be sure to include what
you wrote originally but changing
it to address any ideas or
concerns introduced in column
two.

Guiding Question: Guiding Question: Guiding Question:

1. Did you find
things in the article that
the author wrote that
explain or illustrate their
main idea?
2. Did you actually
quote some of the words
or sentences from the
article that support or
illustrate what you
thought was the main
idea of the article?
1. Did you first 1. Have you
read what they think is tightened up your
the authors main claim? evidence and /or shifted
(See box above, it might your claim in step 2 after
be different than yours.) thinking about any
2. What other evidence that might not
things did you read in be included in the first
the article that they column?
might have missed that
supports what they
thought the main idea of
the article was?
3. Did you read
anything in the article
that you think might go
against what they think
the authors main point
was?
Step 6: Explain your reasoning:
Directions: In the space below write a full paragraph explaining HOW each of the peices of evidence
that you pulled from the text and listed above, either supports or does not support the authors claim or
main idea.
Step 7: Connections
If the article was read as a follow up to an experiment of a class demonstration, explain how you think
that the article is connected. What variables or ideas might be happening that tie them together?